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“Night Train = Instantaneous Travel”
The most noticeable banner at a small protest at Paris Gare de l’Est on Tuesday evening declared the purpose of the demonstration: to show support for a night train departing for Berlin. As they made their way around the display of unity for long-distance ground transportation, some commuters heading to less notable locations showed their approval with applause.
I have never witnessed such excitement for a train leaving, nor have I ever observed such a warm reception for a train arriving earlier today.
Spotlights in red, white and blue were trained on the slightly delayed 10.14am arrival from Berlin. The crowd of well-wishers and media who had assembled to welcome the fully booked night express via Frankfurt and Strasbourg were dazzled.
The two primary cities that serve as capitals for the European Union are once again linked by an overnight train. The timing of this event was strategic, as it took place at the same Paris station on December 12, 2014 – marking nine years since German Railways had last operated a sleeper train to Berlin.
The presence of faster day trains and the rise of budget airlines caused German Railways to withdraw from the Paris-Berlin route. Within a year, they also shut down their entire City Night Line service.
“In reference to the termination of the link, we were present here nine years ago,” stated Pascal Dauboin from the group “Yes to Night Trains.” This organization has been advocating for a reversal of the trend of eliminating overnight connections.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid outbreak in March 2020, Russian Railways was forced to discontinue its train route from Moscow to Berlin and Paris. This route was an extension of their overnight train services that connect Moscow to various destinations within Russia. However, ever since the Kremlin’s involvement in Ukraine, Russian Railways is no longer included in Western rail networks.
Austrian Railways, currently in charge, has taken over the abandoned baton and is steadily growing its Nightjet service throughout Europe. However, with the abundance of fast trains and inexpensive flights in a small continent, it is challenging for overnight trains to attract enough passengers to be financially sustainable.
Pascal Dauboin responds quickly, stating that there will be 30 minutes to sleep and 30 minutes to wake up, and in one hour, the task will be completed.
Pascal Dauboin eagerly anticipates the arrival of the first refurbished Berlin-Paris overnight train.
Without teleportation, taking a sleeper train is likely the most efficient way to transport a traveler quickly from point A to point B.
However, there are instances when traveling through Europe by sleeping may not be the most effective method. It is important to consider the recommendations of the editors of Europe by Rail.
“We are quite fond of the concept of traveling by overnight train,” state Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries. “However, we are particular about the location and timing of our departure.” As a result, they have described the ideal night train.
According to experts in European rail travel, a sleeper trip should last for at least 10 hours. The Nightjet train from Vienna to Venice, operated by Austrian Railways, departs at a convenient 9:27pm and arrives at a reasonable 8:24am, a little under 11 hours later. However, for those boarding the train at Salzburg, the departure time is quite inconvenient at 1:40am, leaving only about six hours for a restful journey.
Nicky and Susanne emphasize the importance of making time for a journey in order to fully enjoy it. They suggest indulging in a leisurely evening on board, getting a good night’s sleep, and savoring the train ride in the morning as essential elements for a memorable journey.
In a perfect scenario, all overnight trains would leave at approximately 7pm, provide a dining car for a leisurely dinner, and passengers would not be required to disembark until after breakfast the following morning.
The Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Fort William meets their standards. The top-rated overnight train in the UK departs from London at 9:15pm and arrives in the Scottish Highlands at 9:57am.
The other crucial element: the scenery you miss while asleep – or awake but travelling through the dark. Nicky and Susanne advise: “The pleasure of the night train is having some daylight hours on the train, and not being forced to wake unreasonably early.”
The most beautiful part of the Caledonian Sleeper journey to Fort William is located past Helensburgh, which is northwest of Glasgow. The stunning scenery begins just after 6:30am.
During the winter months, a spectacular train journey known as the West Highland Line starts about two hours before sunrise. It is recommended to experience the scenic views during the summer months when you can appreciate the beauty outside your train window upon waking up.
The trip from Paris to Berlin offers varying levels of scenery. There are beautiful parts, such as the iconic route through Alsace and the path through what used to be East Germany. However, if you need to make a quick journey between the two cities, the fastest option will suffice.
Source: independent.co.uk
